Children from food-insecure households had significantly lower HAZs in
all countries at 5 y (Ethiopia, −0.33; India, −0.53; Peru, −0.31; and
Vietnam, −0.68 HAZ; all P P P = 0.12; India, P = 0.29; Peru, P =
0.16; and Vietnam, P = 0.51). Chronically food-insecure households had
significantly lower HAZs than households that were consistently
food-secure, although BMI-Zs did not differ by chronic food-insecurity
status. Dietary diversity mediated 18.8–30.5% of the association between
food security and anthropometry in Vietnam, but mediated to a lesser
degree (8.4–19.3%) in other countries.

### Conclusions

In four countries, food insecurity at 5 y of age was associated with
both HAZ and BMI-Z at age 8 y, although the association was attenuated
after adjusting for other household factors and anthropometry at age 5
y, and remained significant only for the HAZ in Vietnam.